Eureka native and renowned singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles will be the recipient of a prestigious songwriter’s award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s 49th annual Induction and Awards Dinner in New York in June.

After learning she would receive this year’s Hal David Starlight Award — which is awarded to young songwriters who have a significant impact on the music industry through original music — Bareilles took to social media to share her excitement.

Bareilles said she was moved by the news, especially given some of the criticism she said she received early into her musical career.

“One of the very first professional folks I shared my music with listened to my CD and told me I was just a voice, not a songwriter,” Bareilles posted on Instagram on Tuesday. “I was crushed at first but more importantly, ultimately dismissive of his opinion of me.

“To this day, the thing I care the most about is creating songs that speak to the vulnerabilities of the human condition, and hopefully comfort some folks along the way,” she continued. “It is the honor of a lifetime to be acknowledged for my voice as a writer, for it is the voice I am the most proud of.”

Bareilles’ mother Bonnie Halverson said she is always very proud of Bareilles’ accomplishments and that the award “is like more icing on the cake or a bigger piece of pie!”

“Sara works so hard to give her very best efforts to all her projects and it is delightful when her talent is recognized,” Halverson wrote today in an email to the Times-Standard. “The fact that she is so grounded and grateful to be doing what she loves is a testament to her great heart! Thank you to the Songwriters Hall of Fame for their recognition!”

Songwriters Hall of Fame President and CEO Linda Moran called Bareilles a “natural choice” for the award, saying her music “speaks to our vulnerabilities and strengths in her singular voice, often from a women’s point of view.”